Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

who would

layer of pride. We're all from influential families;

to choose, or I can't face my mom. But I'm not picking a date;

Since none of us want to follow our families' plans, why not team up?" ""How

pretend we're together, and then do our own thing

backs without the constant nagging, while still enjoying their freedom on the side. A win-win. Roseanne still urged her

"Don't worry, I know what

Roseanne seized the moment when Leda went to the restroom

Leda pouted, "I said it was my treat, why did

"I can't let you foot the bill every time.

"Right, my little heiress."

out to

to yourself in public, it's

their way through

a moment,

instinctively look in the direction of the

from an upstairs private room, mostly middle-aged some with streaks of gray, neady all dressed in polo

at the center of attention stood

he was a stark contrast to